Poland has become Europe's most overlooked military and economic power, with an army larger than Britain, France or Germany and living standards that are close to eclipsing Japan's, notes the Economist, adding that a win for Trzaskowski would strengthen Poland's influence, while a win for Nawrocki would do the opposite.more

Drivers could be punished more harshly than shoplifters under Labour plans to increase parking fines. The Department for Transport has reportedly considered raising penalties from £70 to more than £120 for motorists outside London.more

Award-winning Croatian footballer Luka Modric, the 2018 World Cup runner-up and 2022 bronze medallist, has announced that he will leave Real Madrid after the club's World Cup. The 39-year-old midfielder had been playing for the ‘Kings’ team since 2012.more

The risk of forest fires will double by 2100. - warn scientists in a report by the Scientific Council of the European Academies. This, they explain, is the result of, among other things, the climate crisis, rural depopulation and changes in land use.more

BBC World Service is expanding its trusted news offer with the launch of a pilot Polish-language news website, BBC News Polska – bbc.com/polska, and its content on social channels. Going live from Tuesday 24 June 2025, the website bbc.com/polska will deliver independent and impartial news in text and video for Polish-speaking audiences.more

Today, the European Day of Safe Travel Abroad will be celebrated for the first time, which is to promote conscious and responsible travel abroad, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide information on how to prepare for travel in order to avoid various inconveniences.more

Hubert Hurkacz advanced to the semi-finals of the ATP 250 tournament on courts in Geneva. The Polish tennis player won for the first time in six years against the Swiss event's highest seeded American Taylor Fritz 6:3, 7:6 (7-5). Former world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia also advanced to the semi-finals of this tournament by beating Italian Matteo Arnaldi (No. 8) 6:4, 6:4.more

Amid a storm for Reform at this month’s local elections and the government’s white paper announced last week, migration is at the top of the national agenda. One of prime minister Keir Starmer’s plans to reform immigration policy is to require “A-Level English” standards from migrants before they are able to be granted a work visa.more

The UK has seen a change to wetter conditions with scattered heavy downpours and thunderstorms affecting parts of the Midlands and southern England on Wednesday. The unsettled weather is set to continue on Saturday with spells of rain, turning heavy rain in the north and west, and into Sunday with wind in the north-west and showers in the west. more

Barcelona have extended Hansi Flick's contract until 2027, the club announced on Wednesday. Flick, a treble-winning coach with Bayern Munich who signed for the club last year on a two-year deal, arrived in Barcelona eager to redeem himself after he was sacked by Germany in September 2023.more

Net migration to the UK has nearly halved over the year to 431,000, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, in figures which will bring some relief to Keir Starmer.more

Violent prisoners, including those convicted of sex offences and domestic abuse, could be released after serving just a third of their sentence in a bid to ease prison overcrowding, under new recommendations made in a landmark review. more

England will be the first country in the world to start vaccinating people against the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea. It will not be available for everyone. The focus will mainly be on gay and bisexual men with a history of multiple sexual partners or an STI.more

Sixth seed Hubert Hurkacz advanced to the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 tournament on clay courts in Geneva. The Polish tennis player defeated Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-1. This was the fourth meeting of these tennis players and Hurkacz's fourth victory.more

A worker who faced age discrimination from Lidl bosses because he did not have a degree has been awarded £50,926 compensation. Wayne Norman worked as a senior construction consultant for the supermarket chain in Doncaster before being made redundant in March 2023 at the age of 63, an employment tribunal in Sheffield heard.more

The launch of the Ax-4 mission with Pole Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski to the International Space Station (ISS) will take place on 8 June at 15:11 Polish time (9:11 in Florida), Axiom Space reported. The launch was originally scheduled for 29 May.more

Millions of shoppers could get up to £70 each after a tribunal approved a settlement in a lawsuit against Mastercard which stemmed from historic fees levied on businesses by the card provider.more

Britain and its allies, including Poland and the United States, issued a warning yesterday over Russia-funded cyber campaigns against humanitarian organisations that provide support to Ukraine, as well as against technology and logistics companies, Reuters reported.more

A member of Irish language hip-hop group Kneecap has been charged with a terror offence after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a London gig. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, 27, has been charged by the Metropolitan Police after an incident on 21 November 2024 at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London.more

Tottenham ended their 17-year wait for a trophy as Brennan Johnson's first-half goal was enough to beat Manchester United in the Europa League final. Victory means under-fire head coach Ange Postecoglou has fulfilled a promise to deliver silverware in his second season at Spurs.more

The reputation of the major companies owned by Elon Musk has fallen from the top of the rankings to the bottom, a Harrison Poll showed, quoted by the Axios website on Tuesday. Tesla, which was in 8th place in 2021, is now ranked 95th.more

Greggs is removing its self-serve fridges and instead placing sandwiches behind the counter in an attempt to combat shoplifting. The bakery chain, which has more than 2,600 shops across the UK, has launched the new trial in at least five stores, including one in Whitechapel, east London.more

Before level crossings protected by horns or sound and light signals, drivers will no longer be obliged to give the Rp1 ‘Attention’ audible signal, the Ministry of Infrastructure has announced.more

The provincial court of Valladolid has sentenced five people to one year in prison, suspended, and fines of between €1,080 and €1,620. This is the punishment for racist behaviour towards Real Madrid Brazilian striker Vinicius Jr. The incident occurred in December 2022 during a match against Real Valladolid.more

Edinburgh has been crowned the most expensive city break destination in western Europe, according to a new report. Analysis by Post Office Travel Money reveals that the combined cost of accommodation and other typical tourist expenses is higher in the Scottish capital than in any other major city in the region.more